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Loriyas-- I wouldn't get too worried about the Copaxone/ breast cancer connection. It seems that risk although elevated (and there is not enough information to understand just what they mean by that) was still not statistically significant; also, these studies showing some kind of a cancer causality are so often contradicted by other studies showing just the opposite-- I really wouldn't jump to any conclusions based on this one bit of information. (PS-- I am on C as well and see it very much as the lesser of two-- or is it four?-- evils)

Connieb-
I know that companies are required to report every side effect when going through studies prior to FDA approval. I thought that particular study was after that. However, I still wouldn't let that sway me from changing from Copaxone because it is working well for me. I am just searching for answers. Actually, the original quest was to find out how much estrogen an MS patient might need now that I find myself with very, very little and without the ability to replace it. I always felt that there was neuroprotective value to estrogen. So I am at the place of ----now what???

Thanks for your support!
Lori

Lori, don't know if you've been following this thread:

http://www.thisisms.com/ftopic-2883-day ... sc-15.html

But Nick has posted some stuff from Direct-MS on vitamin D's positive effects on cancer, specifically breast cancer.

Lori

I will definitely pass along any info that I think might be of interest.

original quest was to find out how much estrogen an MS patient might need

In terms of my reading, I seriously doubt if anyone knows that and my guess would be that it could vary by individual and age. In the Phase I Estriol Clinical Trial I think they chose the 8 mg estriol dose based on an average of estriol levels in the 6th month of pregnancy (I'm going on memory here which is usually not too great by this late in the evening.)

My basic impression for people with MS based on very small research samples is that it could be the high and low levels of several hormones that may be problemmatic vs. an absolute amount of any one hormone, including estrogen.

The background statement in this article (about breast cancer risk) could almost mirror what I've read about hormone levels and MS. It's the "excesses and/or deficiences" of several hormones that seem to be associated with various facets of MS and is one of the reasons I personally think people with MS may want to consider balanced hormone levels.
Serum Sex Steroids in Premenopausal Women and Breast Cancer Risk

BACKGROUND: Contrasting etiologic hypotheses about the role of endogenous sex steroids in breast cancer development among premenopausal women implicate ovarian androgen excess and progesterone deficiency, estrogen excess, estrogen and progesterone excess, and both an excess or lack of adrenal androgens (dehydroepiandrosterone [DHEA] or its sulfate [DHEAS]) as risk factors.

As just one example, in MS, I think it was women with both high and low levels of testosterone who had more lesions on MRI.

I was surprised by the Copaxone info myself. I recently switched from Avonex to Copaxone.

It seems like there is just never quite enough information. Your getting more expert advice definitely seems like the way to go.

Take care

Sharon

Dignan-Thank you-I have been reading as much as I can re vit D. Interestingly that is the one thing the oncologist said would help-but he was referring to osteoporosis-go figure!

Sharon-once again thanks for your help too. I know that no one know specifically how much anyone needs with regard to any specific hormone. It is the too high, too low aspect that concerns me-especially the too low. See, now that I am no longer producing estrogen I am in that category. But in addition, the oncologist wants me to take another drug to keep the bc from recurring. That drug essentially takes out any remaining estrogen in your body. And so in terms of my MS I'm not so sure that's a good idea. So see the dilemma? That just seems too low estrogen then I think. Then I have to weigh the chance of recurence vs chance of relapse. Not a great decision to make. That's why I appreciate all the help I can get from all you good people!

Lori